Plaquemines Parish President William Nungesser has signed a declartion of emergency for the parish, warning that evacuation could begin as early as Saturday.

He urged residents to step up preparations and called for those needing transportation out of the parish in the event of an evacuation to call 504.274.2470.

Meanwhile, work crews are patching two areas in the levee system that contain serious gaps, a private levee from ConocoPhillips to the federal levee at West Pointe a la Hache and the Citrus Land in the Myrtle Grove area.

In addition, residents with pets are urged to take their animals with them. For more information on pets of those needing transportation, visit www.plaqueminesparish.com/pets.htm.

Parish officials also asked residents with boats to move them to save harbor.

For more information, residents may call the parish hotline at 504.297.5600.